Cregan, who is serving a whole life sentence and will never be released, is believed to have been thrown into solitary confinement at HMP Manchester after warders found a mobile phone and drugs in his cell for a second time.

It is the second time the 31-year-old from Droylsden has gone on hunger strike.

The first time was shortly after he was sentenced in 2013 when he was sent to HMP Full Sutton in north Yorkshire.

Cregan was later sent to a secure unit at Ashworth Hospital in Merseyside for psychiatric assessment. After six months there, he was transferred to Strangeways where he has reportedly wanted to serve his time.

Now he has reportedly gone on hunger strike for a second time and is said to be trying for a move out of Strangeways.

A prison insider told the Daily Star Sunday: “Cregan has burned all his bridges in here. He won’t get anything like the freedom he had before he started trying to run the joint.

“He’ll either by on 23-hour lockdown or he’ll spend most of his time in solitary. He has not eaten since he was sent into segregation. That’s 30 days of not eating.

“It’s all an attempt to force the hand of the governor.”

Prison Problem: The murderer has been segregated at the notorious Strangeways Prison (Image: Google Maps)

Cregan was reportedly living the high-life before his drugs business was busted.

The cocaine dealer shot dead police officers Nicola Hughes, 23, from Saddleworth, andFiona Bone 32, from Sale, after luring them to a house in Mottram following a bogus reports of a burglary.